Applause as Belgium moves to close domestic ivory market

March 19, 2019Comments Off on Applause as Belgium moves to close domestic ivory market530 Views

The Belgian Senate has passed a
non-binding resolution calling on the European Commission to urgently
implement a general trade ban in elephant ivory throughout the European
Union (EU).

Ivory trafficking. Photo credit: girlegirlarmy.com

The Chamber Committee has expressed support for
the Law proposal 54K3202001, which once adopted will ban
domestic sales, export and import of elephant ivory within, from, and to Belgium.

In a reaction to the development, the Wildlife Conservation
Society (WCS) has congratulated Belgium for what looks like a landmark
development.

Arnaud Goessens, EU Policy Manager, for WCS EU, said in a
statement issued on Tuesday, March 19, 2019: “We applaud Belgian Minister
for Environment Marie-Christine Marghem who pledged during a
recent visit in Kenya to support a total ivory trade ban at the EU level.

“In recent months, momentum has been growing for a strong
domestic ban on ivory trade within the EU. Several European governments, including
the UK, France and Luxembourg have been taking individual action and going
beyond current EU rules on the domestic EU ivory market which they consider to
be insufficient.

“The continuation of legal domestic ivory markets creates a
loophole that is used to launder trafficked ivory. The poaching of elephants
will thus continue if there are open markets for their ivory.

“We commend Belgian representatives for their leadership and
appreciate the broad political support for a domestic ivory ban.

“We urge other EU Member States to implement similar
national ivory bans and to call on the European Commission to close the EU
domestic ivory market and enact the strongest ban possible.”